Images are of the actual item and are an accurate representation of condition.
Need Assistance? Speak to one of our customer care team on +44 (0)1279 704 142
This manual wind Jaeger-LeCoultre jewellery piece demonstrates distinct craftsmanship and unusual design popular in the mid-1900s. With 30mm x 13mm case size, this is an elegant ladies’ dress timepiece. More appropriately - but unofficially - this piece can be called “Jaeger for Hermès”, as could other collaborative works between the two houses. It is uncertain if this would have been a private commission or a saleroom piece manufactured for Hermès.
Made circa 1943, this piece embodies an important era of the 1900s in jewellery and watchmaking collaboration. The best watchmakers worked alongside the most skilled jewellery artisans to create specialities for the wealthy. These were two brands that commanded large market shares in Europe at the time. Jaeger-LeCoultre is well known for being the “watchmaker's watchmaker” for having realised more individual calibres than any other Swiss manufacturer. They are the inventors of the smallest mechanical movement ever created, the cal. 101, still holding the title until today for this technical feat.
The extraordinary step dial in silver, with black painted markers holds two blued steel sword hands centrally. Arabic numerals 12, 3, 6 and 9 are painted in black
Another striking feature is the domed barrel mineral crystal, which runs the full length of the watch case giving a smooth profile and optical effect.
The black painted hour markers and brand look to be repainted by a restorer sometime in the last few decades. There are some minute irregularities in the paint indicating careful work being carried out, but not the original dial markings. The Hermes writing appears to be in tact and untouched.
The case is incomparable to many in its irregularity as there are so few examples left on the market to see of these early 1940s dress pieces. The dial and case would have been made for or by Hermès, with the beating heart of no other than a JLC Cal. 101, with it’s obvious off-centre winding crown on the caseback. The calibre 101 was invented by Jaeger-leCoultre in 1929, contains 98 parts and weighs around 1 gram. The whole movement is 1.4cm long and less than 0.5cm wide to give an idea of scale, so it fits easily in this case as with many smaller jewellery pieces.
The stepped case is set with two large cabochon rubies between the curled lugs at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock. This exterior craftsmanship would have been beyond the capabilities of JLC watchmakers at the time, and shows the proficiency of Hermès jewellery making. While Jaeger commissioned local artisans to create their early watch cases, it’s more likely that Hermès would have actually commissioned the movement from Jaeger to ensure an excellent timepiece. We suspect that the gold bracelet is not original but a special order and a later addition to the watch. Many pieces of the time would have come on thin linked or solid bracelets and slender leather straps. This bracelet addition gives the watch more substance and durability.
Item is in unworn or unused condition and there are no visible imperfections.
The item is in exceptional pre-owned condition and shows almost no signs of wear with very few imperfections.
The item is in excellent pre-owned condition and shows minimal signs of wear with minor imperfections detailed in the condition report.
The item is in very good condition and shows one or two noticeable signs of wear or patina relative to its age.
The item is in good pre-owned condition and shows some general signs of wear or patina relative to its age.
The item is in fair pre-owned condition and shows overall wear or patina relative to its age.
When available we always strive to fit manufacturers’ straps, however in this case this watch comes fitted with a generic strap, and where possible, we try to fit straps of comparable quality to the original. Alternatively, if you wish to explore different colours and materials, please contact one of our sales specialists for more information.
This second hand Jaeger watch has been fully inspected in house and is covered by the 24 months Xupes warranty – please note this does not include accidental damage or negligence. Water resistance is only guaranteed in line with manufacturer's warranty.
ViewingAvailability
At Xupes, we make choosing and buying a pre-owned watch a truly seamless and enjoyable experience. Every item is fully inspected, serviced and restored in our accredited service centre by our team of highly skilled watchmakers, using manufacturer-approved tools and equipment. If for any reason your watch isn’t to your complete satisfaction, you can return to us within 30 days and either obtain a full refund or exchange it for something else from our range; you’ll find details of our returns policy here. For your peace of mind, your pre-owned watch will also be covered by our 12-24 month warranty.
See our excellent customer reviews on trustpilot.
Read MoreDont have an existing account? Click here to sign up.
Please check whether your email address and password are correct. If you don't remember your password, just click on the 'Forgotten password?' link to reset it. Please note that after 5 failed attempts your account will be blocked for safety reasons. If you need help, please call us on +44 (0)1279 704 142.
Be the first to know about new drops, exclusive offers and more...